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GRANTS PASS Grants Pass sales tax for public safety loses big By Eder Campuzano Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Eder Campuzano Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 4, 2015 @ 4:33 pm By Eder Campuzano Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 4, 2015 @ 4:33 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> As the ballot deadline approached Tuesday evening, Toni Webb hovered around a table at Taprock Northwest Grill, where Chamber of Commerce President Colene Martin and other local business people awaited the verdict on the Grants Pass sales tax proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot. Webb and a friend had a wager going. Victory didn't hinge on the measure passing — the winner would correctly predict how badly it would lose. "I've got it at 64-36," Webb said. "My friend has it losing 68-32." It turns out Webb and her friend were generous. Measure 17-67, which would have enacted a citywide sales tax of 2 percent, was crushed at the polls with 78 percent of residents voting no. Proponents say the measure would have provided funding for 30 beds at the Josephine County Jail and provided enough money to reopen the detention facility at the Juvenile Justice Center. It also would have replaced a property tax levy of $1.79 per $1,000 of assessed value used to supplement city public safety services and a utility fee of $2.84 for residential customers that currently pays for extra jail beds. None of the opponents gathered at the Taprock were surprised at the outcome, although they admit to being relieved. Mike Melvin, who owns At Your Pace Online, has voted for countywide public safety levies that have been rejected at the polls for the last four years. He says he wants to help find a funding solution for the Sheriff's Office, but he didn't see the sales tax as achieving that. "We need to work together to find a better solution," he said. "I want to work on something positive." Terry Hopkins, the regional vice president for Elmer's Restaurants, said he admired the folks who put together the ballot measure for bringing an option to the table. "The overall message went to the city that the residents back public safety," he said. "But this isn't the way to do it." Grants Pass City Council President Dan DeYoung said a sales tax is one more item that can be "checked off the list" as officials in the region search for ways to fund public safety services. "The election spoke for itself," he said of the lopsided results. "I knew (a sales tax) was unpopular, but I didn't know it was that unpopular." DeYoung said the council will now turn its attention to the city's supplemental property tax for public safety, which expires in 2017. City voters have consistently supported the supplemental tax over the past two decades. He did, however, say that the real problem must be addressed on a countywide basis. County revenue has continued to decline over the past decade, as timber revenues dwindled and federal subsidies to replace those revenues have also declined. Consequently, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office offers only limited patrols in rural areas and the county jail operates at about half its 262-bed capacity. Detention and shelter facilities at the Josephine County Juvenile Justice Center have been closed for more than three years. "I really don't know what the answer is," DeYoung added. "We're doing OK in Grants Pass. The problem really is in the county." Turnout for the election was slightly more than 50 percent, unusually high for an election that did not include a presidential or governor's race. The tax would have applied to most retail transactions, although there were several exceptions outlined in the proposal. No tax would have been required on groceries and other items considered to be necessities, such as prescription medications. By Eder Campuzano Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Eder Campuzano Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Nov. 4, 2015 @ 4:33 pm » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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